Following People, Not Tools
Code, Curiosity, and Cutting Through the Noise
Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with an old friend and long-time collaborator, Shaun Richardson. Our conversation was insightful and refreshingly relevant—full of the kind of ideas that stick with you. Shaun is a senior full-stack developer now based in Tauranga, New Zealand, with a deep grasp of everything from cloud infrastructure to user experience. He’s spent years building high-quality systems, mentoring teams, and advocating for tools like Svelte/Kit. I’m excited to share what we discussed—because it’s genuinely useful and worth your time.
In the ever-shifting world of software development, staying “up to date” often feels like an arms race. But Shaun, a seasoned developer and quietly influential thinker, has a different approach—one that’s rooted less in tools, and more in people.
“I don’t stay current with frameworks and languages and tools specifically... I stay current with people.”
Instead of tracking every change, Shaun curates a trusted circle of developers. “Like Scott Hanselman,” he says. “He’s a developer advocate, he posts insightful stuff, and his energy makes learning feel easy.” It’s an approach that trims the noise and saves time, without sacrificing relevance.
The Deepest Connection: Combinatory Logic and the Joy of Simplicity
When asked what tech he feels emotionally connected to, Shaun didn’t name a product or platform—but Lambda calculus, specifically combinators. It’s not practical, he admits, but it’s elegant and foundational.
“Some ridiculously smart people took the simplest building blocks and created something massive out of it.”
This love for structure and simplicity reveals a mindset that favors depth over trendiness.
Tech Trends: Hype vs. Hidden Progress
“Almost everything starts overhyped.”
Shaun sees the early wave of hype in tech as natural—from Bitcoin to the cloud to AI. But he’s more interested in the technologies that quietly reshape the world.
“GPS is a great example—it simmered in the background for decades before transforming everyday life.”
Tools of the Trade: Keep It Simple
Shaun’s workflow? VS Code, a scratchpad, and a calendar.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone with my tooling. I just want to get things done.”
Whether digital or physical, his tools help him focus and think clearly. That minimalism reflects his broader approach to development: efficient, personal, and practical.
AI in the Workflow: Donkey, Not Genius
“Copilot’s installed—but honestly, I don’t lean on it that much.”
Shaun prefers using ChatGPT for stubs and repetitive tasks, calling it a “workhorse” rather than a creative partner. He’s careful with AI’s power—and its risk.
“The further a bug is from the source, the more it costs to fix.”
Right now, we’re still in the ‘cowboy’ phase, but he believes good practices will emerge as the dust settles.
Experimenting on the Edges
Shaun’s a pragmatist first—but not exclusively.
“I sneak [experiments] in at the edges.”
Once the practical solution is in place, he gives himself space to try something novel. If it sparks, great. If not, he moves on—never over-polishing ideas that don’t hold up.
Generosity and Clarity
Before we wrapped up, Shaun casually offered to post his VS Code setup guide on his blog—no ego, just useful content for others.
Whether he's writing, mentoring, or working through code, Shaun brings a refreshing clarity to his work. In a noisy space, he’s someone who chooses signal over volume—and that, more than anything, is his real edge.